Dan to race at Brands Hatch with top motorsport team

Dan Collinson, managing director at Collinson plc. Has joined racing team Total Control Racing's squad.

Published:13:10Sunday 03 April 2016

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A Garstang businessman has become the latest driver to join a multiple championship winning motorsport team for the 2016 season.

Dan Collinson, from Garstang, made his motor racing debut last year and will now join Total Control Racing’s squad.

The 37-year-old, who is managing director at Collinson plc in Catterall, started in the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club (GRDC) category for novice racers but has now moved up to take on a tougher challenge.

Targeting a season of consistent progression at the wheel of his newly acquired thoroughbred racing Ginetta G40 in the British GT Championship, Dan says he is delighted to be debuting in the series for his sophomore year in cars.

He said: “I was thinking of racing in GRDC again this year but Lee (Brookes – TCR team principal) talked me into doing the GT5 Challenge so here we are.

“It’s only the last couple of years I’ve thought about racing, my Dad did a fair bit of rallying in the seventies and eighties but I wasn’t really interested in doing that. Then I saw the GRDC and thought I’d give it a go.

“Last year was good, I’d never raced anything before – not even karting – so I went into it as a complete novice. I know this year will be a much bigger challenge but I can already see with TCR how organised they are, Lee and the guys know what they’re doing and you know the car is going to be spot-on. It’ll be great having some team-mates to learn from, I’m just aiming to enjoy the season.”

And team boss Lee Brookes says he is delighted to welcome Dan to the squad and is confident he will make big strides during 2016.

He said: “It’s going to be fantastic working with Dan this year and we’re sure he’s going to make some notable progress. Moving into the challenge is a big step in only his second year, but I’m certain he’ll go well and have a good year.”

And Dan’s first event comes next month as the team takes on Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in Kent as it hosts the opening event of the Ginetta GT5 Challenge across the weekend of April 16 and 17.